Media, advertising, and telco M&A largest global transactions 2024, by value

The media, advertising, and telecommunications industry witnessed notable merger and acquisition deals and announcements in 2024, with Verizon's acquisition of Frontier Communications topping the list at ** billion U.S. dollars. This deal, along with other major transactions like Silver Lake's privatization of Endeavor Group and Omnicom's purchase of Interpublic, each valued at ** billion U.S. dollars, showcases the continued consolidation trend in the sectors. The surge in M&A activity follows an increase in 2023, when the total value of media industry mergers and acquisitions surpassed **** billion U.S. dollars, up by ** percent compared to the previous year.

Regional distribution and industry segments

The beginning of 2024 saw the total number of media M&A transactions worldwide reach ***. At that time, the EMEA region accounted for the largest share of media M&A activity at ** percent, continuing its dominance since at least 2022. In the first half of 2024, the music and podcasting sub-segment experienced the most significant growth in M&A activity, increasing by *** percent compared to the second half of 2023. Overall, the mergers and acquisitions in the media and entertainment industry grew by ** percent during the same period.

Context and industry trends

In 2023, ***merger and acquisition deals were recorded in the media industry worldwide, down from over ***** transactions a year earlier. This fluctuation in deal volume, combined with the increasing value of transactions, suggests a trend toward larger, more impactful mergers and acquisitions in the media landscape. The industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and the need for companies to achieve greater scale and efficiency in an increasingly competitive market.